By getting rid of the scheme, the Tory manifesto claims that English schools will receive a £4 billion injection.

Under the current system all children in the first three years of school get a hot meal at lunchtime and the Conservatives say scrapping that will save £650 million.

The policy led to critics branding Theresa May the ‘lunch snatcher’ in a reference to the ‘milk snatcher’ jibe aimed at Margaret Thatcher.

The Tories claim the move will save millions (Picture: Getty)

Funding comes from the £650 million saving from scrapping universal infant free school meals, £200 million from “better systems” for the Student Loans Companies, £160 million from “departmental efficiencies” in Whitehall and £10 million from the levy on sugary drinks.

The free school meal policy was a flagship Liberal Democrat policy during the coalition era and the party condemned the decision to scrap it.

Lib Dem education spokeswoman Sarah Olney said: ‘Margaret Thatcher was know as the ‘milk snatcher’. Theresa May will go down as the lunch snatcher.